Lead

Anti-migrant violence in the South African coastal town of Mossel Bay has forced hundreds of foreign nationals to flee their homes, with mobs reportedly going door-to-door telling them to leave the country. The unrest, which erupted last weekend, has left homes torched, families sheltering in community halls, and several governments organizing evacuations.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Africa News, Al Jazeera, and France 24 — English collectively describe a wave of xenophobic attacks that began with a protest against foreign nationals accused of taking jobs from locals. The violence has centered on Mossel Bay, in South Africa's Western Cape, where 55 homes were destroyed, according to Africa News and France 24.

Africa News reported that 19-year-old South African national Nhlamulo Sambo died amid the violence, with his family attributing the attack to his Tsonga ethnicity and calling it a "tribal war." The same report noted that two Mozambicans were killed. Al Jazeera, citing Mozambique's government, said five of its citizens were killed as a "direct consequence of the xenophobic attacks." France 24 reported that South African police confirmed two Mozambican deaths but did not link them to the anti-migrant march held hours earlier.

The number of displaced is significant. Africa News reported that nearly 600 Mozambicans fled Mossel Bay and returned home in the days following the violence. Al Jazeera said hundreds were fleeing across the border. France 24 noted that around 300 fled back across the border on Saturday, with hundreds more expected to follow.

Key Claims

  • 55 homes were destroyed in the unrest that followed a protest against foreign nationals, as reported by Africa News and France 24.
  • 19-year-old South African national Nhlamulo Sambo died in the violence, according to Africa News, which reported that his family believes he was attacked because he is Tsonga.
  • Two Mozambicans were killed, according to Africa News and France 24, citing South African police. The Mozambique government, as reported by Al Jazeera and France 24, put the death toll at five.
  • Nearly 600 Mozambicans fled Mossel Bay and returned home, according to Africa News. France 24 reported that around 300 crossed the border on Saturday, with more expected to follow.
  • Around 100 foreign nationals from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe were still sheltering in a Mossel Bay community hall, guarded by police, according to Africa News.
  • Hundreds of foreigners are sheltering in community halls, as reported by France 24 and Al Jazeera.
  • Mobs of locals have been going door-to-door telling foreigners to leave, according to France 24, which quoted a Mozambican man in Gansbaai who said he was told he did not belong in South Africa.
  • Ghana has already flown home 300 of its citizens, and Nigeria has announced emergency repatriation flights, as reported by France 24.

Perspectives

The violence has drawn different official responses. The South African police, as cited by France 24, confirmed two Mozambican deaths but did not link them to the anti-migrant march held hours before. The Mozambique government, however, said five of its citizens were killed as a "direct consequence of the xenophobic attacks," according to Al Jazeera and France 24.

The families of victims have also provided accounts. Nhlamulo Sambo's family, as reported by Africa News, called his death a result of a "tribal war," while a South African woman in Mossel Bay told France 24 that she was accused of living with a Shangaan man and told to leave, despite presenting her South African identity document. "They said they don't care about IDs," she said.

Foreign nationals displaced by the violence have described being chased from their homes. Mozambican Thomas Vincent Baloyi, sheltering in Gansbaai, told France 24: "They said 'you are a foreigner, you don't belong in South Africa, so you must go'... They just chased us away like dogs... that is unfair because, actually, I'm a human being."